Defeat by Spurs would make top four spot difficult - Di Matteo

Fri, 23 Mar 14:46:00 2012

Caretaker manager Roberto Di
Matteo believes defeat for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur on
Saturday could make Champions League qualification a tall order
but is reassured by the club's domination of the fixture for
over 20 years.

Chelsea have not lost at home to Tottenham in the Premier
League era, the last reverse coming in 1990, but victory has
never been more important as they try and close a five-point gap
on their London rivals who occupy fourth place.

Defeat, Di Matteo said, would make it difficult for Chelsea
to finish in the top four although there is room for optimism
with skipper John Terry set to return after missing the midweek
defeat against title-chasing Manchester City.

Not such good news is the likely absence of full back
Branislav Ivanovic who is doubtful with a thigh injury.

"We're used to these big games, tomorrow is another one, the
team is fighting for fourth and for the Champions League next
season and we understand that," Di Matteo, who suffered his
first defeat since taking over from sacked Andre Villas-Boas on
Wednesday, told a news conference on Friday.

"It's a game we play at home and we want to take advantage
of our home form and our supporters as well, a win would give us
a big lift, if we get a draw we're still in it, but if we lose
it will be very difficult.

"We will try, our home form is very good, we haven't lost a
game yet in 2012, we would like that to continue."

Chelsea, Tottenham and a resurgent Arsenal are battling for
third and fourth places in the Premier League, with Chelsea
having the slightly tougher run in.

"I'm certain that we have the toughest run of fixtures from
now until the end of the season compared to the other teams, but
we're a good team, we have a good squad, an almost fully fit
squad as well so we have all the resources we need to be able to
challenge," said Di Matteo, who also faces a Champions League
quarter-final at Benfica on Tuesday.

Chelsea are also in the FA Cup semi-finals, meaning the
games will come thick and fast for Di Matteo's squad.

"We cannot look further ahead than the next game, we haven't
got the time to do that because the position we're in doesn't
allow us to do that," he said.

"We're playing every three days so we need to utilise the
whole squad, select a team that is fresh and can reach the
intensity levels you need."

Despite the defeat at City, which with Tottenham's last-gasp
draw at home to Stoke City meant the gap between the sides
widened to five points, Di Matteo said he took a lot of heart
from the performance.

"We were disappointed on Wednesday, but I think it was a
great effort from our team and we created the most problems for
Manchester City at their ground," he said.

"They are very good at home, so now we go into tomorrow's
game with a lot of confidence and belief."